Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic on verge of history | Tennis News – Times of India

Novak Djokovic will aim for a 6th Wimbledon crown and record-equalling 20th Major title in final against Berrettini
Matteo Berrettini is not left-handed. He doesn’t have the advantage of the angles Denis Shapovalov employed on Centre Court. But had the seventh-seeded Italian watched the second Wimbledon men’s semifinal, he’d have reached for his match notes. The Canadian demonstrated what exactly he needed to do against the top-seed on Sunday. That last-four clash might have also showcased what he’s up against: Novak Djokovic’s unbending steel.

Shapovalov had created 11 breakpoint opportunities across three sets against the world No. 1 on Friday. He converted one.
“Is it going to be a battle?” the 22-year-old Shapovalov asked himself of the title clash. “For sure,” he said.

“From the back I was outplaying Novak a good portion of the match,” said the world No. 12. “Matteo is looking super solid from the back. It’s going to be uncomfortable for Novak. With the serve that he has, if (Matteo) can manage to sneak out a break here or there, win a couple tiebreaks, it’s going to be really tough for Novak to break him.”
The noisiest serve in tennis then goes up against sharpest return the game has known in the final of the grass-court major.

Djokovic, in his seventh Wimbledon and 30th Grand Slam final, is going for a sixth Wimbledon crown and a record-equalling 20th major title. The Serb has played Berrettini twice, most recently in Roland Garros last month where the 34-year-old triumphed in four sets.

Djokovic, bidding to record his 21st consecutive Tour-level match-win on grass, the streak dating back to June 2018, knows what to expect. “With big weapons in serve and forehand he can play well on any surface,” the top-seed said, adding that their Roland Garros meeting was ‘very tight and very tough’.

“Obviously grass favours his game even more. If he serves big, as he has done through the tournament, it’s tough to break his serve. It’s tough to find rhythm, to find a good positioning to return, make him play. But I believe in my return. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a lot of those serves back and wait for my chances.”
Berrettini, who leads the field this fortnight with 101 aces, has won 95 percent of his service games and has saved 22 of 27 breakpoints he has faced in the tournament.

The seventh seed, in his first major final, is bidding to become the first Italian player, man or woman, to win the title at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old is hoping to make it a double bill celebration for his countrymen on Sunday as Italy take on England in the Euro final.
“I will tell (everyone) to buy a nice TV if they don’t have one already because it’s going to be a special Sunday,” said Berrettini.